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MAXIMILIANS LUCKY CHASE TIMERS FLAG LEFT ON TRACK DELUDES RIDERS FROM COURSE. Queer Incident Makes the Steeplechase a Farce Ingham, Vino and Do Mund the Winning Favorites at Brooklyn. New York, September IS. There was a sudden and sharp fall in the temperature today, which, with an accompanying heavy and steady downpour of rain, contributed to make the afternoon at Gravesend one of the very worst of the season from a racing standpoint. The attendance suffered in consequence. The track was very sloppy. The only feature was the Willow Stakes, a handicap for two-year-old miles at live and a half furlongs. It developed Into a tremendous struggle between four In the early running. Half Sovereign, second choice, coupled witli Fond Heart as the Belmont entry, drawing away decisively when straightened for home. Explosion, the heavily backed favorite put tip a heroic, light to hold her squeezed-in inside position in the bad going, but succumbed Anally, not only to the superlative mud running Belmont Ally, but to Mombassa as well. fhe unlucky Itadtke managed to get away hopelessly bad on Lady "Winifred in the stake after having previously been left on the favorite He-knows hi the introductory sprint for two-year-olds. The tabled history of the Willow Handicap is as follows: Year. Winner. Wt. Jockey. Val. Time. 1887Leo II 111! Martin ,S00 1:16J 1888 Senorita 117 J. Mclghlin 1,550 1880 Hectare lir. I. Murphy.. 2,350 1:15 1890 Esperanza .HIS Barnes 1.925 1:151 1891 Yorkvllle Belle.. 110 I. Murphv.. 1,700 1:15 JS92 Helen Nichols... 115 McCafferty.. 1,175 1:101 189:5 Stonencllie 105 Midglev ... 1.775 1:151 1894 Hahdspun 115 Reagan I, CM 1:15 1895tAnnot Lyle 105 Littlelield .. 1.125 1:015 1800 Princess Flavia.. 97 OLearv ... 1,1:50 1:021 1897JKitefoot 11! McCafferty.. 1,4:50 1:10 1898 Acushla 107 Clawson ... 1,550 1:0S1 1899 Oneck Queen 114 Maher 1,370 l:joj 1000 Junieo ljt N. Turner.. 1,420 1:081 1901 Endurce by RightllO J. Woods .. 1,385 l:0Sjt 1902 Astarita 115 McCue 2,355 l:0t!g 190. Marjoram 108 Bullman ... 1,750 1:09 1904 Chrysitis 109 ONeill 2.115 1:07? 1005 Kings Daughter.. 114 T. Burns .. 2,:5SO 1:07 1005 Kenneytto 119 Radtke 2.075 1 :07i 1007 Half Sovereign... 115 Nlcol ...... 2.1:50 1:09 3-4 mile. Reduced to 5-S mile. 15 1-2 furlongs this year. The steeplechase developed into a singular farce, due to the action of the man who handled the timing Hag at the start, which began on the first turn. He left it upright stuck in the ground, so that the steeplechase jockeys on Essex II. and Gum Straus were deceived into taking it for one of the regular red flags tliat marked the course and when going on the Inside of it after the Liverpool the tlrst time around, they pulled up and eaine back thinking they had gone the wrong course. Maximilian in the meantime went about his business with an advantage of half a mile over his two deluded opponents and won pulling up. There were foolish wagers laid in the clubhouse that the stewards would declare it no race In view of the unique character of the blunder. The red Hag which is supposed to mark the course was conspicuously planted on the first turn of the steeplechase course, but it had no business to be there. The literal ob-, servahce of the rules by the jockeys on Essex II. and Gus Straus brought nltout their undoing. Maiden jockeys disported themselves in the fifth race, n selling affair at one mile and a furlong. The logical favorite, Viuo, was ridden to an easy victor by a lad named John Upton. He is fifteen years of age and is the son of an, engineer employed by the Union Ferry Company. His father and mother were present and saw him win. Both ran out In the pouring rain and embraced their victorious offspring on his return to the scales. The sympathetic spectators applauded the interesting scene. De Mund, carrying top weight, spreadeagled his field in the closing sprint. The 5,000 beauty displayed amazing speed and there nre many horsemen who believe that the Rainey three-year-old can hold his own with the mighty Roseben.
